Date of intake:: 5/26/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner Surrender (7 Months)

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 2 children (ages 13 and 15) and 1 small dog

Behavior toward strangers:: Mitsy is shy and prefers contact on their own terms with strangers

Behavior toward children:: Mitsy will hard bark/growl at children

Behavior toward dogs:: Mitsy is reported to hard bark/growl at dogs

Behavior toward cats:: Mitsy is reported to be tolerant of cats

Resource guarding:: No Resource Guarding

Bite history:: No Bite History

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High Energy

Other Notes:: Would defecate outside on walks (yard) Fearful of loud noises Reacts to strangers that approach home/yard by hard barking/growl Held/restrained: Fearful Disturbed while resting/sleeping: Isn't bothered Startled: Fearful Pushed/pull off furniture: Isn't bothered Feet/paws are touched: Isn't bothered Collar grabbed/touched: Unk *Previous assessments can be given upon request*

Date of assessment:: 7/16/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: None Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: Jumps up on handler Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful Call over: Approaches handler with coaxing Sociability comments: Seeking exit, tense body, avoidant of handler Soft handling: Fearful Exuberant handling: Fearful Comments: Tense body, freezes, needs a lot of coaxing to get into position Arousal Jog comments: Balks does not follow Knock Knock comments: Approaches handler with tense body low body and low tail Toy Toy comments: No interest, flees from assess-a-hand

Summary (5):: 7/16/26: Mitsy is at the front of her kennel as the handler approaches. She is easily leashed and exits the kennel without issues. She follows the handler slowly through the hallways with a lowered body. She sits next to the handler in elevator and leans onto them asking for pets. Once outside, Mitsy slightly pulls toward the street and after few minutes of discovering certain areas she relieves herself. Handler coax her forward, and Mitsy continues walking alongside the handler with no leash tension. Mitsy does not display any reactivity toward passing dogs, people, or other stimuli. Mitsy responses when called and allows petting. Her body remains neutral; on the way back she pulls harder toward the shelter. After walk is finished, Mitsy is taken to the Canine Behavior office for the assessment (see notes). During returning handler is able to pre-clip the leash and bring Mitsy back into her kennel with no further issues. 7/14/26 (Trainer Note): Mitsy was at the front of kennel on trainers approach. She was leashed with a treat lure due to hesitation. She walked quickly through the halls tail tucked until the elevator where she visibly relaxed. Once in the training room she was able to engage with touch. She was rewarded on the snuffle mat. She was able to be released and brought back to her kennel with no further signs of increased fear. 7/2/26: Mitsy is staying at the front of her kennel when handler approaches. She is leashed with a treat lure and taken out of the room. She slowly follows the handler in the hallways all the way out. Her body is lowered with tucked tail. She is not receptive to treats. Once outside, she starts searching for an exit and pulls back to the shelter. Her body is stiff and she is avoiding eye contact. Handler coax her using soft voice and treats and Mitsy continues walking next to them with no pulling. Mitsy doesn't react towards other dogs or people passerby. Handler engages with her but she is not responsive and remains aloof most of the time. After walk is finished, Mitsy is taken to the Canine Behavior office for the assessment (see notes). During returning handler is able to pre-clip the leash and bring Mitsy back into her kennel with ease.

Summary (6):: 06/29/26: Mitsy is at the front of her kennel as handler approaches, she does a half play bow as the leash is presented but slinks lower to the ground as it gets closer. Handler kneels down and tosses the leash over her head and she exits kennel following handler out to the street. Outside Mitsy is exuberant and pulls around toward dogs she sees in the distance but as the walk progresses she settles. Mitsy walks with handler and accepts treats when called to. She sniffs around and passes people and dogs without issue when distracted with treats or when simply walking past. She relieves herself during her walk and after a while she is brought back inside. She allows handler to clip her leash and she follows tossed treats back into kennel. 6/27/26 (Trainer note): Mitsy is at front of kennel when trainer is approaching. She is hesitant with leashing but is lured with a high value piece of chicken. She walks tail tucked close to the trainer with quick steps while remaining alert until the training room. Once in the room she allows trainer to put a drop leash on her and her confidence improves. She is initially only able to engage with the snuffle mat though is able to transition to breath work for a few sessions taking treats tentatively until trainer opts to throw them in front of her instead. She concluded the session with more snuffle mat. Walk back was uneventful though she remained again with her tail tucked. 6/20/26: Mitsy is at the front of her kennel with neutral body when handler approaches. She starts hard barking and jumping on the kennel door when handler attempts to unlock it. She is leashed with a treat lure and taken out of the room. Mitsy follows the handler in the hallways with lowered body and sits right next to them in elevator. Once outside, she pulls hard crossing the street and immediately relieves herself. Mitsy continues walking ahead of the handler with mild pulling. When she sees a dog she will hard stare at them with tense body but handler is able to distract her with treats. Mitsy doesn't react towards people passerby. Mitsy allows petting but most of the time remains aloof with neutral body. During returning handler is able to pre-clip the leash and bring Mitsy back into her kennel with no further issues.

Summary (7):: 6/13/26: Mitsy is at the front neutral. He is easily leashed and taken out of the kennel. Mitsy walks slowly and is aloof with the handler. She displays a brief soft tail wag when the handler tries to engage with her. Mitsy is taken to the street and walks besides the handler. She occasionally looks towards the handler with wide eyes and a neutral body. When returning to the shelter. Mitsy is tense and has a lowered body. In the elevator she stares at another handler with a tense body. Mitsy then walks back to kennel and is returned without issue. 6/8/26: Mitsy is lying down flat at the back of the kennel. She approaches the kennel front slowly and is easily leashed and taken out of the room. Mitsy is brought to the street, where she relieves herself. She walks slowly besides the handler with a tense body and pinned ears. The handler crouches besides her and she presents a soft wagging tail and a hunched body. She allows brief petting on her head and back before the handler stops. She approaches and nudges their hand for more. Mitsy is then walked back to the shelter after. She tucks her tail upon entrance and is returned to kennel without issue. 5/29/26 (Assessment): Mitsy was lying down at back of kennel when handler approached. When trying to leash Mitsy tried to dodge the leash as she continued to lie down. Once handler got leash around her neck and opened doo all the way she stood and walked out of kennel. Handler took Mitsy for a street walk before he assessment. During her walk Mitsy walked next to handler leaning against their leg with tail tucked, ears back and a tense body. When she saw another dog or a person she would quickly drop low to the ground and took a couple seconds for her to recover and continue. She was then brought to the behavior room for her assessment. She was social with handlers, but had tail tucked though out. She was returned to kennel with no issue. 05/28/26: It is reported via white board that Mitsy may exits kennel and walk with Luna Park(C12); fearful, accepted pets and scratches. Suggested to try scent-swapping. 5/27/26: It it written on the white board "refused very fearful" for the PM walk. It is noted that walk times were written down for both AM and mid day walk.

Date of intake:: 5/26/2026

Summary:: very fearful but allowed handling

Date of initial:: 5/26/2026

Summary:: trembling when in medical for vaccines

ENERGY LEVEL:: Mitsy is described as active and enthusiastic. They will need daily mental and physical activity to keep them engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm. We recommend feeding with puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys. And we recommend only force-free, reward-based training techniques for Mitsy.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: Level 4

Recommendations:: No children (under 13)

Recommendations comments:: No Children (Under 13): Due to Mitsy's fearful disposition and need for contact on her own terms, we recommend a home with no children.

Potential challenges: : Fearful,On-leash reactivity/barrier frustration

Potential challenges comments:: Fearful: Since intake Mitsy has been reported to be fearful and avoidant of handlers. It is important to always go slow and give Mitsy the option to walk away from any social interaction. They should never be forced to approach anything that they are uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be their choice to approach a new person or thing. Mitsy would do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Please see handout on Decompression Period. On-Leash Reactivity/Barrier Frustration: In her previous home Mitsy was reported to hard bark and growl at children and other dogs she would see. Mitsy may need positive reinforcement, reward based training to teach her to look at you rather than other dogs. We recommend a front clip harness or head halter to help manage this behavior. Please see handout on On-Leash Reactivity and Barrier Frustration.